Program Information

We offer an M.A. program in modern Middle Eastern Studies and joint M.A. programs that combine the study of the Middle East with Journalism, Museum Studies, Library Science and Business. We cooperate closely with the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, which offers a separate program of study leading to the Ph.D. degree.

Our program focuses on the contemporary political economy and cultures of the region and the historical processes that have shaped the present. Courses cover modern history and politics, as well as specialized topics that reflect areas of faculty research. These areas currently include: questions of economic and political rights, law and society, gender politics, Arabic fiction writing, Iranian literary culture, the anthropology of Arab cities, Ottoman and Arab state formation, Egyptian social history, and modern Iran and Central Asia. Courses are also available on pre-modern Islamic history, literature, and philosophy, and on the ancient Near East.

We pay special attention to language training, with state-of-the-art instruction in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and Turkish, as well as Hindi/Urdu and ancient Near Eastern languages. Many students also take intensive summer language programs in the U.S. or abroad.

Our M.A. program is designed for

Those thinking of entering a Ph.D. program but wanting first to explore different disciplines or advance their knowledge of the region and its languages

Those planning a career in fields such as journalism, public service, cultural organizations, human rights, or political advocacy and seeking to understand the region's politics and history and to engage with questions of culture, social transformation, and economic justice.

A master's thesis or report written under the supervision of an adviser

Language Requirement:

To complete the degree, students must demonstrate proficiency at the upper-intermediate level in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. (Other languages may be considered as meeting this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies). Students who have prior language training or who take an intensive language course in the summer following their first year may satisfy the requirement by testing at an upper intermediate level of proficiency or by enrolling in an advanced class. Native speakers with fluency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking may waive this requirement with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. The program encourages all students to pursue language training through the advanced (graduate) level and graduate-level advanced language courses are available in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.

Master's Thesis or Report

The master's thesis should generally have the format, style, and length of a substantial article in a scholarly journal. Alternatively, with the approval of your thesis advisor, it could have the format and style of a substantial professional report, of the kind that might be commissioned by an NGO or international organization, or a creative project such as a film. In either case, it must present your own research and analysis and relate them to existing scholarly and/or professional understandings of the topic.

You should begin thinking about possible topics for your thesis during your first year in the master's program. We encourage you to take courses offered by faculty who may be able to work with you on your thesis or who may be able to suggest research areas or topics. When you meet with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) toward the end of the spring term of your first year to discuss fall courses, you should discuss possible thesis ideas. You should try to use the summer between your first and second years in the program to develop your thesis topic and, if possible, conduct preliminary research.

In the fall semester of your second year you must define your thesis topic and, in consultation with the DGS, select a faculty thesis advisor as well as a second reader. As early in the semester as possible you should develop, in consultation with your thesis advisor, a brief proposal discussing your research project, how it relates to the existing literature on the topic, and the sources or materials you plan to work with, including a bibliography. When your proposal is approved by your advisor – in any case no later than the end of the fall semester – you must submit to the DGS a copy of your proposal as well as a thesis proposal approval form to be signed by your advisor and your second reader; this form will also serve as confirmation that your advisor and second reader are willing to work with you on your thesis.

Internships

The internship program draws on the resources of New York City as a center of international politics and culture. Internships provide practical training in the kinds of research and report writing required for careers in public and nongovernmental service, policy research, cultural affairs, and political advocacy. The internship program enables students to make professional contacts in fields they are interested in joining and to share their skills with organizations as they explore a particular field or issue. Organizations providing internships include (but are not limited to) human rights organizations, United Nations agencies and missions, media organizations, policy research groups, and other nongovernmental organizations. The internship involves 10-15 hours of work per week during one semester. Students receive up to 4 points toward the degree by registering for Internship, NEST-GA 2997. They must submit weekly progress reports on their internship project as well as mid- and end-of-semester reports.

Master of Arts in Global Journalism & Near Eastern Studies

The joint degree program gives students professional training for careers as newspaper, magazine, or broadcast journalists, combined with study of the politics, history, and cultures of the Middle East. On the Journalism side of Global Journalism (GloJo), the general requirement is five Journalism course.

Students who are in the joint program with Journalism must also complete a thesis or Master's project in the form of a 7,000-10,000 journalistic work, worthy of publication in a major news outlet. Students must follow the same procedures and deadlines regarding formulation of a thesis topic, selection of an advisor and a second reader, and submission of the approval form as students in the stand-alone program, in consultation with the DGS for both Global Journalism and Near Eastern Studies. Journalism master's projects should be read and approved by two faculty members, one of whom should be affiliated with NES and the other with Journalism.

Concentration in Advanced Language Proficiency

The Master of Arts program in Near Eastern Studies with a concentration in Advanced Language Proficiency allows students room in their plan of study to pursue additional graduate-level language credits toward their degree, thereby encouraging advanced and literary proficiency in a Middle Eastern language.

Concentration in Museum Studies

The Master of Arts program in Near Eastern studies with a concentration in museum studies is designed for those who intend to pursue careers in museums and cultural organizations and for those currently employed in the field who wish to acquire formal training.

Concentration in International Relations

The Master of Arts program in Near Eastern Studies with a concentration in International relations prepares students for careers as professionals, practitioners, and scholars in the field of international relations; the concentration is designed to train students as Middle East area specialists for future work in government service, think tanks, multilateral organizations, private corporations, consulting firms, or non-governmental organizations.

Dual Degree in Near Eastern Studies & Library Sciences

In collaboration with the the Palmer School of Library and Information Science at Long Island University (LIU), NYU offers a dual master's degree program that prepares subject specialist/scholar-librarians for careers in academic and research institutions or as information specialists in a specialized library or information center. The program grants an ALA-accredited Master of Science in Library and Information Science from LIU's Palmer School and a Master of Arts or Science from NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS).

NYU Libraries' large Middle East Studies collection and the Kevorkian Center's M.A. in Middle East and Islamic Studies provide unique opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career as Middle East and Islamic Studies libraria